Delroy Lindo Reflects on BAFTA Incident: 'Did I Just Hear What I Thought I Heard?'
Delroy Lindo opens up about his experience presenting at the BAFTA Awards, where a Tourette's campaigner's outbursts went unedited during the live broadcast. He shares his initial reaction and subsequent discussions with Michael B. Jordan.
Delroy Lindo has shared his perspective on the controversial incident that occurred at the BAFTA Awards last month, during which he presented an award alongside Michael B. Jordan.
John Davidson, a Tourette’s campaigner featured in the film I Swear, was present at the ceremony on February 22nd. Throughout the event, involuntary tics associated with his condition were audible. Disturbingly, he was reportedly heard shouting a racial slur while Lindo and Jordan presented the award for Best Visual Effects.
Davidson also made offensive remarks during BAFTA chair Sara Putt’s speech and directed an insult towards the directors of Boong, the Best Children’s and Family Film winner.
In the aftermath, Davidson apologized, expressing that he was “deeply mortified”.
Lindo, star of Sinners, previously acknowledged the support received, while also expressing that he wished “someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterward.”
Speaking on NPR’s Fresh Air podcast with Tonya Mosley, Lindo revealed his initial reaction. “You have to understand, we had jobs to do,” he explained. “We were the first presenters of the evening, and we had to read that teleprompter … There was a nanosecond, a nano of a nano of a nanosecond, when I’m thinking: ‘Wait, did I just hear what I thought I heard?’
"But then, and it truly was a nanosecond, one had to read the teleprompter and get on with presenting the award.”
Lindo discussed the incident with Jordan, who had a “similar response”. Both proceeded to “do our jobs.”
The BBC, which broadcast the ceremony with a delay, faced criticism for not editing out the slur. The BBC has since apologized and removed it from the BBC iPlayer version.
BBC director general Tim Davie addressed the House of Commons’ Culture, Media and Sport Committee, stating that the slur “should never have been broadcast” and acknowledged the “hurt and shock that the mistake caused.”
Davie explained that the BBC's investigation suggested the error occurred because a similar slur was shouted when Lindo and Jordan’s Sinners co-star Wunmi Mosaku received the Best Supporting Actress award.
While this initial slur was removed, the editing team was unaware of the subsequent one. Davie added that producers initially believed the second slur was inaudible, leading to a delayed reinvestigation and eventual removal from iPlayer.
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